Father scoffed and turned to Will. “See? What drivel.”
“And yet it’s good enough for the boys at Eton or Rugby or, heavens, the local grammar school, but not these girls?”
“Theyaren’t complaining about a lack of food,” her father responded with exasperation.
“Only because they had the good fortune to be born to a different social class.” Phoebe had managed to keep her voice at a reasonable volume but she was nearly out of her seat now. If her father continued, she feared she might lunge across the table.
“I beg your pardon, sir, but Miss Atkinson has a point,” Will said crisply. “One can hardly blame the problem of hunger on the education of girls. That is another issue entirely, and one that requires its own solution. I’ve seen the school for myself and am more than happy to support its mission, however frivolous you may find it.”
He then met Phoebe’s eyes across the table. “But while I candonate money to good causes, the work of people like your daughter is truly priceless. We owe them all a great debt.”
Phoebe stared back at him in open-mouthed shock. No one had ever defended her so boldly before—nor challenged her father on her behalf.
But he merely narrowed his eyes at Will. “You’ve been to her school?”
“Yes,” Alex added as she turned to him with great interest. “When was this, exactly?”
Will blinked at them and shot Phoebe a panicked look. She was about to say that he had come on a tour with his mother, which of course would only lead tomorequestions they couldn’t answer, when they were saved by dessert. Or, more accurately, by Freddie.
As the footman placed the enormous apple charlotte on the table, she clapped her hands loudly and let out a delighted squeal. “Oh, my absolute favorite! Mother, you shouldn’t have on my account.”
“I didn’t,” she responded, raising a censorious eyebrow at her husband. “It also happens to be a favorite of ourguests.”
Father let out a grumble and slouched in his chair. He had been sufficiently put in his place—for now.
“Is itreally?” Freddie asked Hank Junior, as if this was the most interesting thing she had ever heard in her life. “How funny!”
“Uh, yes.” The young man sat forward with a start. “It is.” He would not miss any chance to enjoy Freddie’s attention.
“Tell me, do you have an apple orchard by that great big summer house of yours in—where was it again?”
“Newport. And, no. We don’t have an orchard there.”
But based on the regret in Hank Junior’s tone, Phoebe would bet her entire salary the man would put one in before the year wasup if it would lure Freddie there. She caught her sister’s eye over his shoulder and sent her a grateful look, which she returned with a subtle wink. Sometimes Freddie’s unrivaled ability to draw attention to herself was a gift.
After dessert was finished, it was decided that the ladies would not withdraw for tea, given the small size of their party. Instead, they all headed back to the drawing room.
Freddie insisted on playing piano for the room and recruited an eager Hank Junior to turn the pages, while Alex disappeared into a corner with a book. Phoebe’s father was busy showing Mr. Ericson his collection of rare maps, while her mother directed a maid on the best spot to leave the tea cart. That left Phoebe and Will alone on the sofa.
“Thank you,” she murmured.
“No need,” he replied as he draped his arm across the back of the sofa. If she moved over just a little, his fingers could have grazed the nape of her neck. The mere thought of which caused the spot to tingle. “I support subjecting everyone to Homer. I had a schoolmaster who insisted we memorize the opening ofThe Iliadin Greek, no less. It’s been nearly two decades and I still haven’t recovered.”
“How torturous,” Phoebe teased.
“Besides,” he said as he met her eyes. “Someone needs to challenge your father every now and then. Might as well be me.”
Phoebe could only hold his gaze for a moment before she had to look away.
“Have you been well, though? In general, I mean,” he added unnecessarily.
Was conversation always this awkward after you had seen someone naked?
“Yes, I’m fine. Busy.”
“Business or personal?”
She laughed at the little quip but still couldn’t look at his face. Not when he was this close to her. So she stared at his thighs instead. But no, that was a mistake. They seemed to strain against the fabric of his trousers. And now she knew just how well muscled they were. Phoebe shifted in place as she inadvertently recalled the memory of him vigorously thrusting into her. She cleared her throat and forced the inconvenient memory out of her mind, then glanced up to find Will staring at her with the very same heated intensity she had just been trying to forget.
